On the streets of Heaven Dou City, the crowd's cries of amazement had yet to fade as Lin Chen slowly left the Soul Master Market, holding Su Qingyuan's and Yue Huaxi's hands.
The lingering Soul Power fluctuations from the fierce battle gradually dissipated, but the imposing presence that had cowed every expert still kept the watching Soul Masters at a distance. The Soul Power of a rank twenty-three Soul Grandmaster flowed steadily through him. After his breakthrough, his life Soul Power had grown even purer, wisps of vital spiritual energy curling around his body. Even standing casually, he possessed a majesty that brooked no challenge.
Su Qingyuan's eyes brimmed with tender delight. Her Azure Lotus Martial Soul quietly receded as she said softly, "Lin Chen, you were incredible just now. That rank forty-three Soul Ancestor didn't even have a chance to escape."
Yue Huaxi nodded gently as well. Her Moonlight Spirit Grass Martial Soul radiated a soft silver glow, making her features look all the more lively. "Yes. After this battle, no one in Heaven Dou City will dare look down on us again. Those people from the Spirit Hall Branch probably won't dare trouble us for the rest of their lives."
Lin Chen chuckled, brushing his fingertips through their hair. His voice was calm but certain. "Only for now. Spirit Hall has always avenged even the slightest grievance. The Blood Demon Soul Ancestor's blood oath was merely a stopgap. Unless our cultivation grows strong enough, they'll come storming back sooner or later. If I want to truly protect you and stop being at anyone else's mercy, I must reach the Soul Elder realm as soon as possible."
He understood that Soul Grandmasters were still among the lower ranks of Soul Masters. Only by becoming a Soul Elder and acquiring his third Soul Ring could his combat strength make a qualitative leap. Then, even if Spirit Hall sent a Soul King, he would have the strength to fight.
And if he wanted to become a Soul Elder quickly, the Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy was undoubtedly the best place to go.
This elite Soul Master Academy, directly controlled by the imperial family of the Heaven Dou Empire, possessed Heaven Dou City's richest cultivation resources, the most extensive branch of the Soul Beast Forest, and the most skilled Soul Master instructors. It also gathered the finest young Soul Masters in the entire empire. Whether in cultivation conditions or opportunities for fortune, ordinary academies could not begin to compare.
The earlier invitations from the instructors of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy and the Azure Mist Branch Academy had given him the perfect opening to enter.
Without lingering, the three headed straight toward the Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy.
Along the way, every Soul Master who saw Lin Chen stepped aside of their own accord, their eyes filled with awe. Throughout the streets and alleys, people were still eagerly discussing the battle at the Soul Master Market. The name "Lin Chen" had already become the stuff of legend among Heaven Dou City's young Soul Masters.
An hour later, a magnificent complex of buildings appeared before them.
Towering vermilion walls stretched for miles, their tops carved with dragons, phoenixes, and Soul Beast patterns. Above the main entrance, the gilded characters spelling "Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy" exuded grandeur, faintly coursing with Soul Power. Two stone lion Martial Soul statues flanked the gate, radiating powerful auras comparable to Soul Elders. The students guarding the entrance were all Soul Elders above rank thirty, standing straight with sharp eyes.
This was one of the sacred grounds for Soul Masters throughout the Heaven Dou Empire.
At the academy entrance, many young Soul Masters were lining up for the admissions assessment. Most were noble children or exceptionally gifted commoners, each brimming with confidence. Yet the crowd instantly fell silent when they saw Lin Chen and his companions.
"It's him! Lin Chen, the one who crushed Spirit Hall's Soul Ancestor at the Soul Master Market!"
"Heavens, he's actually applying to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy!"
"With him here, no one will dare claim first place in this year's freshman assessment..."
Murmurs rose one after another, and the once-noisy registration line spontaneously parted to make a path for Lin Chen.
The instructor handling registration was none other than Li Ran, who had previously come to dissuade Lin Chen. At the sight of him, a warm smile immediately spread across his face, and he hurried forward. "Brother Lin Chen, you finally came! I thought you might turn down the academy's invitation."
"The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy has abundant resources. It's an excellent place to cultivate, so naturally, I came," Lin Chen replied calmly.
"Wonderful!" Li Ran was overjoyed and quickly continued, "With your strength, there's no need to take the ordinary freshman assessment. I'll take you straight to the Dean of Academic Affairs for special admission!"
Ordinary freshmen seeking entry to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy had to pass three highly demanding assessments: a Soul Power test, practical Martial Soul combat, and Soul Skill control. But Lin Chen's achievements spoke for themselves. A Soul Grandmaster who had fought a Soul Ancestor and swept aside Spirit Hall's experts possessed strength far beyond ordinary freshmen, and even surpassed many senior students.
Led by Li Ran, the three entered the academy, passed ornate pavilions with carved beams and painted rafters and cultivation grounds rich in spiritual energy, then reached the academic affairs hall deep within the grounds.
The Dean of Academic Affairs was a rank sixty Soul Emperor with white hair and beard, profound eyes, and carefully restrained Soul Power—clearly an expert who concealed his true depths. He had already heard of Lin Chen's exploits. Upon meeting him, he put on no airs and rose to greet him. "Young friend Lin Chen, your talent and combat strength are rarities seen once in ten thousand years. Our academy will admit you directly as an exception and grant you core freshman privileges. You will have exclusive use of an advanced cultivation chamber, receive ample Soul Coins and spirit herbs every month, and have unrestricted access to the academy's Soul Beast Forest and Scripture Repository."
Even the children of the empire's highest nobility could scarcely obtain the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's core freshman privileges, showing just how highly the academy valued Lin Chen.
Lin Chen nodded slightly and did not refuse. "Thank you, Dean. I have only one request. I hope to enter the academy's exclusive Soul Beast Forest as soon as possible, find a suitable third Soul Ring, and break through to become a Soul Elder."
His purpose in coming was to break through to Soul Elder. Empty honors and superficial benefits meant nothing to him.
Hearing this, the dean's appreciation deepened. "You truly are devoted to cultivation, young friend. The academy's rear mountain Soul Beast Forest houses Soul Beasts ranging from a hundred to a thousand years old. Among them are many plant and animal Soul Beasts possessing Life Force, perfectly suited to your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. However, the academy will soon hold its New Student Elite Tournament. The grand prize is a five-thousand-year Life Spirit Deer Soul Ring. It is especially suitable for support-type and control-type plant Martial Souls, greatly enhancing Soul Power and vitality. It would be immensely beneficial to your breakthrough."
A five-thousand-year Life Spirit Deer Soul Ring!
A gleam instantly flashed through Lin Chen's eyes.
His Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul was the mutated Life Blue Silver Grass, making it highly compatible with Soul Rings containing Life Force. A five-thousand-year Soul Ring far exceeded what an ordinary Soul Grandmaster could absorb, but his body had been repeatedly tempered by Life Soul Power, and he had the reinforcement of his Life Domain. He could withstand it without trouble. Once he absorbed it, his cultivation would surely soar, perhaps even carrying him straight into the middle stages of the Soul Elder realm!
This was the opportunity he truly wanted!
"I'll enter the Elite Tournament," Lin Chen said without hesitation, his voice firm.
Just then, a somewhat cold voice came from outside the hall.
"Dean, academy rules require core freshmen to earn their status through strength. Hastily granting an outsider special treatment will hardly convince everyone."
Everyone turned to see a group of young men approaching in the uniforms of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's senior students. Their leader was tall and handsome, with four Soul Rings—three yellow and one purple—rising around him. He was a rank forty-two Power Attack System Soul Elder with a formidable aura. Several Soul Elder students above rank thirty followed him, staring at Lin Chen with hostile eyes.
He was Xue Ming, one of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's outstanding senior students and a trusted confidant of His Highness the Crown Prince.
Always proud, he regarded the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's honor as everything. Seeing an outsider like Lin Chen admitted directly as a core freshman and receiving such attention from the dean immediately stirred his resentment. He intended to put Lin Chen in his place.
"Lin Chen, is it? I heard you defeated a Spirit Hall Soul Ancestor with a Soul Grandmaster's cultivation, but I think that man from Spirit Hall simply had an empty reputation." Xue Ming's lips curled disdainfully. "If you want to stay at the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy and compete for the Elite Tournament's grand prize, get past me first. Take three moves from me. If you withstand them, I'll acknowledge your qualification as a core freshman. If not, obediently take the ordinary assessment and stop trying to find shortcuts!"
As his words fell, Xue Ming's Soul Power surged, light flowing through his Soul Rings. He was already poised to strike.
The surrounding instructors and students turned to watch. A battle seemed ready to erupt at any moment.
Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi immediately stepped forward to stand beside Lin Chen, their Martial Souls quietly appearing as they prepared to fight.
Lin Chen patted their shoulders to reassure them, then raised his eyes toward Xue Ming. His gaze remained calm and unruffled, yet carried the bearing of someone looking down upon every challenger. "Three moves? No need. One is enough."
That casually delivered sentence plunged the entire hall into deathly silence!
In his eyes, a rank forty-two Soul Elder needed only one move to defeat?
At those words, Xue Ming grew so furious that he laughed. "What an arrogant brat! Let's see what gives you the right to act so high and mighty!"
Before his words had fully fallen, Xue Ming shot forward, his second Soul Skill erupting. Golden Soul Power condensed into a sharp spear that thrust straight at Lin Chen, while Soul Elder-level Soul Power pressure swept through the hall!
Lin Chen stood completely motionless. Two dark green Soul Rings slowly rose beneath his feet, and his Life Domain activated instantly.
A pale green halo spread outward. Xue Ming's Soul Skill abruptly slowed, and the Soul Power suppression took effect, sharply diminishing the golden spear's might!
"Life Entanglement."
Lin Chen spoke softly, without the slightest flourish. Countless strands of Life Blue Silver Grass burst from the ground, forming a net that spanned heaven and earth. They instantly wrapped around Xue Ming from his limbs to his neck, binding him fast as immense Life Suppression poured down.
Thud!
Xue Ming, who had been so aggressive moments earlier, was forced directly to his knees. His Soul Power was completely sealed, leaving him unable to move even a finger. The arrogance on his face instantly turned to horror and disbelief.
One move. In just one move, the rank forty-two Soul Elder had been utterly defeated!
The entire hall fell silent. Everyone stared at the scene, mouths agape, their gazes toward Lin Chen now filled with sheer shock.
The dean stroked his beard, the smile in his eyes deepening as he grew even more pleased with Lin Chen.
Lin Chen withdrew his Blue Silver Grass and looked indifferently at Xue Ming. "Now, do you acknowledge my qualifications?"
Pale-faced, Xue Ming rose to his feet in a sorry state, all his former pride gone. Without a word, he lowered his head and slunk aside with his followers.
With that minor disturbance settled, the dean immediately arranged for someone to escort Lin Chen and his companions to the exclusive cultivation area for core freshmen.
Their exquisite private courtyard was so rich in spiritual energy that it condensed into mist. Various Life Spirit Grass herbs grew within, and the cultivation chamber even contained a Soul Gathering Formation, allowing cultivation several times faster than outside.
After seeing off the instructor who had guided them, only the three remained in the courtyard.
Lin Chen sat cross-legged in the cultivation chamber, closing his eyes and focusing his mind. As he sensed the increasingly substantial Soul Power within him, his anticipation for the Soul Elder realm grew stronger.
I will claim that Life Spirit Deer Soul Ring.
My breakthrough to Soul Elder is close!
Meanwhile, in the ordinary student dormitories on the other side of the academy, Tang San stood before a window. He had sensed the earlier Soul Power fluctuations from the academic affairs hall. Upon learning that Lin Chen had effortlessly crushed a rank forty-two Soul Elder and become a core freshman of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, he clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.
Lin Chen's growth was terrifyingly fast, far beyond his expectations. A powerful sense of danger once again shrouded his heart.
He silently turned, sat cross-legged, and devoted himself fully to cultivating his twin Martial Souls, Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer. Only one thought remained in his mind: I must surpass Lin Chen as soon as possible!
Lin Chen's arrival had stirred the winds and clouds of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy into turmoil.
The privileges of a core freshman, the opportunities in the Soul Beast Forest, the struggles of the New Student Elite Tournament, Spirit Hall's covert scrutiny, and his hidden rivalry with Tang San...
Everything was quietly brewing.
Lin Chen opened his eyes, green light flickering within them as Life Soul Power surged ceaselessly.
Next, he would gather all his strength, prepare for the New Student Elite Tournament, claim that five-thousand-year Life Spirit Deer Soul Ring, and break through to Soul Elder in one leap, bringing his strength to yet another peak!
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